The Washington critic., 1887-09-27
WASHINGTON, SEPT. q, 1887.
.uyaIEsE" IN THE SCHOOLS.


The study of Physiology and
Hygiene is made compulsory by law In
all the common or public schools of the
District OF Columbia and of the Terri.
tories, including all Indian and colored
schools, and in the Military and Naval
Academies of the United States.
If any superintendent, director or
other school ofIlcer, having authority
in the premises, refuses or neglects to
comply with this provision of the law,
he is liable to removal; and all teachers
are required TO pass a satisfactory ex.
animation in the studies named before
they shall be entitled to certificate.
1t cannot be denied that they are use.
ful studies. A greater diffusion OF
physiological and hygienic information
among the people Is much to be desired,
and we do not see that reasonable oh.
lection can be urged against any inno-
vation that promises 10 add TO our sum
of practical knowledge through the
medium of the common school.
But there are conditions to the adop.
ton Of such rule that we fear have
been overlooked in the present instance.
The law does not prescribe that Hygiene
and Physiology shall be taught In all
the grades Of all the schools, and care
should be taken not to put these text.
books in the hands Of children too
young to fully appreciate their nature
and purpose. In this matter the school
officials may exercise their own discre.
tion.
The law Is Furthermore obnoxious to
criticism In that ills not strictly hon.
est law. 1t was never Intended to en-
courage the study OF Physiology and
Hygiene upon broad and comprehen-
slve principles. such as are essential to
proper understanding Of these
sciences, but only with Especial refer.
ence to the nature and the effects of al.
coholic drinks and other narcotics upon
the human system" to use the some.
what clumsy language of the statute
Itself.
The textbooks, to be used under the
law, like courts organized to convict,
presuppose of course that there Is but
one side to the question and are written
to condemn. A subject that Is still a
matter of controversy among the best
scientists Of the day Is passed upon In
these textbooks as admitting of no
disputation whatever.
We are quite willing that the children
Of the public schools shall be reared
TO detestal!on of intemperancc and .
knowledge of It's results. but We doub,
the wisdom Of making the schools
even indirectly, contributors to the
growth and success Of the Prohibition
party, or of any other political combi
nation.
We emphatically demur to the pro
prieiy Of introducing the whisky ant
tobacco branches into the lower grade
of the schools and thus occupying tim,
that had better be employed In health
giving recreation, or crowding asid
other and simpler studies better adapt
ed to the understanding Of young chill
Gren.
THE task of making new restric
tions upon immigration, says the Ne'
York iSun, eff such shall seem desirs
BILE, must be performed by the tw
great parties which contain the gret
majority Of American citizens" Tha
would appear to be the natural and pt
triotic course. But are the restriction
to be foregone altogether because tn
two great parties refuse to move In th
matter2 Ithas been noised in the eal
Of the people for generation bac
that these parties would take care c
the liquor question. How have the
done II? The organization of the Pro
hibition party furnishes an oil
yious answer. We have been tol
year after year that the two great pa
ties would take care of the labor que
tlon. How have they done that? Loo
at the grand army Of workingme
revolving against their old politics
masters for reply. And now thes
same parties must be left to take car
of the immigration question, But tn
country is losing confidence In the
professions and the new America
party is another diversion. 1t may nj
become formidable this year or mex
but 1t adds new factor to the emba,
rassments of an already complicate
situation and furnishes further con
mentary on the unreliabillty of parti
that exist simply to contend with OF
another for the spoils Of office.
THE decision of Judge Colt in Il
case of the Government against Il
Bell Telephone Company, rendered
the United States Circuit Court ut Br
ton yesterday, is to the effect that Co
gress not having made any provlslC
for the institution Of suit by the Go
eminent to cancel patent on d
ground of fraud, no right to bril-
such suit inheres in the Governmer